Tropical Fort Point

Artist: Peter Agoos

Neighborhood: Fort Point

Location:  

Medium: Floating art installation

Time Frame: Monday, April 28, 2014 - Sunday, June 15, 2014

Description:

“The struggle for quality public open space in the neighborhood and the likelihood of climate change-induced rising sea levels are the conceptual parents of Tropical Fort Point.  Inspired in part by seeing the Sudbury River at spring flood turning the adjacent wetland woods into wooded wetlands—trees apparently growing out of a lake, with an occasional canoe or kayak slipping between the trunks — the concept was initially planned as an evergreen installation called Fort Point Forest.  The design evolved to embrace the low centers of gravity, salt-resistance, and wind-shedding characteristics of Majesty Palms and grew the new title of Tropical Fort Point.  This tongue–in–cheek preview of the effect of rising tides stakes a claim to the Channel wetscape as an unexploited green space.”  - Peter Agoos

Agoos is a long-time Fort Point resident, the creator of the 2012 suspended installation Arts Imbalance between the Summer and Congress Street bridges, creative director for the 100^th anniversary illuminations of the Boston Children’s Museum in fall 2013, and with Diane Fiedler, creator of C is for Clamp on view at BCM as part of the multi-artist installations known as An Alphabet of Inspiration: Artists Celebrate 100 Years of Collections.

Tropical Fort Point will be located in the Fort Point Channel basin between the Congress and Summer Street Bridges. The installation will be on display from April 28th – June 15^th.  An expanded public art series is planned for May, with three additional installations to be announced around the Fort Point Channel.

Tropical Fort Point and the Spring Public Art Series are held in conjunction with Fort Point Spring Open Studios Weekend, to be held Friday through Sunday, May 9-11^th. During Open Studios, more than 75 artists will open their studio doors to the public. Studios will be open Friday evening from 4-7pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm. Open Studios visitors will explore the neighborhood and go inside the historic Fort Point warehouse lofts to meet local artists, including: painters, sculptors, ceramicists, jewelers, performance artists, fashion designers, printmakers, book artists, photographers, and more. Artwork will be available for purchase directly from the artists.

Fort Point Open Studios events are free and open to the public.  Free parking during Open Studios is available.  A downloadable map and details of Fort Point Open Studios will be found on www.fortpointarts.org

Open Studios and the Public Art Series are organized by Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC), which represents over 300 artists in all media working and living in this unique waterfront neighborhood. Fort Point is recognized as one of New England’s largest established arts communities.  Peter Agoos. For more information on the Fort Point Arts Community visit www.fortpointarts.org.

Tropical Fort Point and Fort Point’s Floating Art Series is made possible by the generous support Friends of Fort Point Channel, a nonprofit organization committed to making the Fort Point Channel an exciting and welcoming destination for all of Boston's residents, workforce and visitors. For more information, please visit www.friendsoffortpointchannel.org. Friends of Fort Point Channel has partnered with The Fort Point Arts Community since 2005 to activate the Fort Point Channel with temporary displays of public art.

Additional support for Tropical Fort Point is provided by a grant from the Fort Point Channel Operations Board with funds from the Chapter 91 Waterways Regulations License #11419 for Russia Wharf, now Atlantic Wharf. The Fort Point Channel Operations Board is made up of representatives from the City of Boston, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Fort Point Channel Abutters Group, who oversee the implementation of public benefits required from private development along the Fort Point Channel.

Photo credit: @MetroBosMike

« Back to Top